Steam-generator.



N0.669`,558. Patented Mar. I2, |90rl.

E. E. STODDAR.

STEAM GENEBATUR.

(Applicatxon led July 23, 1900. j

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES i Arent Certes,

ELGIN E. STODDARD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STEAM-G EN ERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,558, dated March 12, 1901.

l Application tiled J'uly 23, 1900. Serial No. 2%50'7A (No model.)

T @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELGIN E. STODDARD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Gen erators; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates t0 Steam-generating apparatus of the type known as water-tube boilers, having superimposed chambers or drums with steam-generating tubes connecting therewith, and to certain improvements in boilers of `this type.

My improvement consists, essentially, in continuing the circulated water through and independent of the drum by means of pipes or conduits connecting to the uptake and downtake passages of the boiler, with provision in these pipes or conduits forseparating the water and steam and for permitting the steam to rise freely therefrom without traversing the body of water contained in the main drum or drums, as will be fully explained in the following specification and illustrated in the drawings therewith, forming a part of the same.

My invention has several objects, as follows: to attain a nearly uniform velocity of the circulated water throughout its cycle in the boiler, to separate the water and-steam as they rise from the uptake-passages without their mingling with water contained in the superimposed drums, to progressively heat the supply-water as it slowly traverses the main drum to the point where it enters into the circulating water in the boiler, and to permit the precipitation of solids and impurities from the supply-water and prevent these entering the steam-generating tubes.

To illustrate an application of my invention, I have chosen a wellknown type of steam-generators, in which the top drum is arranged parallel tothe evaporating-tubes, as illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specication.

Figure I is aside elevation, partially in section, of a common water-tube boiler provided with my improvements. Fig. II is a crosssection on the line a d in Fig. l. Fig. III is a perspective view of a portion of the tubes or conduits that form the principal feature of my invention and one of the head-chambers that connect those tubes at the ends; and Fig. IV is a longitudinal section through the intake end of one of the tubes or conduits, showinga helical directingvane to reverse the water and steam.

Referring now to the drawings and the construction and manner of operating, l is a top or main drum of a common water-tube boiler inclosing the pipes or conduits 9, that form the top portion of the water-circuit, and con' necting at each end with the generatingtubes 2 by means of heading-chambers 3, pipes t and 5, or in any other suitable nuanner, the water circulating through the Whole, as indicated by arrows in Fig. I.

The furnace li, chimney-Way 7, mud-drum 8, and other constructive details, such as doors and boilei'dittings, are of the common character and will be understood without description.

The pipes or conduits 9, which, with the evaporating-tubes and the head-chambers 3, form the watercircuit, constitute the essential feature of my invention. '[heseconduits not being subject to pressure can be single or multiple, ot' thin material, and of any form in their cross-section as the diameter or shape of the drum l or other circu1nstances may render preferable, two circular tubes being shown in the present drawings. They may be one or more in number and should have an areain cross-section approximately the same as that of the other circulating-passages of the generator, the object being to maintain within limits a uniform rate of tiow for the circulated water. The tubes or conduits 9 are connected at their ends to the uptake and downtake head-chambers 3 by the chambers l0 and pipes 4. and 5 or in any manner that permits suitable connection with the main drum l, so the latter will inclose the conduits. The generating-tubes 2 are set in an inclined position to produce circulation and also to attain a position as nearly as possible transverse to the course of the flame and hot gases from the furnace 6. As the mingled steam and water flow up the uptake-pipes 4 at a velocity Varying with the IOO rapidity at which steam is generated or the intensity of the fire, the water, by reason of its weight, overruns the steam and impinges against the top of the chambers 10 and enters theupper side of the conduits 9. To reverse or invert the Water and steam as it enters the tubes 9, I provide a helical passage, preferably byinserting plates or vanes 12,the convolution of which is one hundred and eighty degrees, so that Water entering at'ihe top of the conduits is at once directed to the bottom thereof, permitting the steam to rise freely through the tubes 13 and escape into the steam-space in the top of the main drum 1. Water not evaporated ows along the conduits 9, as indicated by arrows, and down int-o the rear head-charnbers 3, to again enter the generating-tubes 2,

performing continuous circulation, as in allv boilers of this type. The supply-water to replace what is evaporated enters the main drum 1 by a pipe 14, connecting to a forcepulnp or other means of injecting water -against the steam-pressure, and after fiowing slowly to the rear end of the main drum 1 enters the rear chamber 10 at 15 and is there added to the circulating water. The supply Water entering at 14: and that contained in Y the main drum 1 up to the line 16 beiug'undisturbed bythe rising steam and water or by the circulation thereof Hows slowly through the main drum and enters the rear chamber 10 at a temperature near the point of evaporation. This slow and undisturbed dow of the Water in the main drum 1 not only serves to raise it to a high temperature, but permits the precipitation of impurities in suspension or solution, so these can be removed from the main drum and Will not be carried into and deposited in the generating-tubes 2.

In some cases the helical vanes 12 can be omitted, especially in the case of slow circulation, that will permit quick separation of the water and steam by gravity alone.

It will be understood that the drum 1 can be of any suitable form to provide more or less steam-space, as may be required, and set in any suitable relation to the evaporatingtubes and other connected parts.

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my invention and the manner of applying the same in practice, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a water-tube steam-generator, aseries of evapo rating-tubes, head-chambers in which these tubes are supported, the conduit 9 connecting these chambers and the evaporatingtubes, forming a water-circuit therethrough, a superimposed main drum inclosing the circuit 9 and in communication therewith by the steam-passages 13, combined and operating in the manner substantially as speciied.

2. In a water-tube steam-generator, a superimposed main drum, inclosed therein a conduit for water and steam connecting the uptake and downtake passages of the boiler and a series of evaporating-tubes disposed below the main drum and apertures or passages from the top of the steam yand water conduit to the steam-space in the main drum, in the manner-and for the objects substantially as speci- `lied.

3. In awater-tube steamgenerator, a series of evaporating-tubes, head-chambers in which these tubes are supported, superimposed tubes or conduits 9 connecting these headchambers completing a water-circuit through these and the evaporating-tubes, a main drum 1 surrounding and inclosing the pipes or conduits 9 and in communication therewith by passages for steam from the latter extending above the water-level in the main drum.

4. In a water-tube steamV generator, asuperimposed main drum surrounding and incasing the pipes or conduits 9 forming a part of the circulating-passages, means to discharge steam from Ithe latter above the water-level in this -main inclosing drum and a helical passage at the intake end of the pipes or conduits 9 whereby the steam and water are inverted therein, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELGIN E. STODDARD.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, ELMER WIoKEs. 

